Tired of Excuses

Friday, March 26, 2010

Today I bumped into someone I used to volunteer with. We hadn't seen each other since I started my journey and she commented on my weight loss. When I told her what she'd been doing, she said, "Oh, it's easy for you, you have discipline."

My birth family constantly makes similar comments. The reality is no one is born with discipline. I mean, seriously, have you ever seen a disciplined baby?

Why do people find it easier to claim losing weight is easy for someone else 'cause they like exercise or have the discipline to stick with it?

There are days I HATE the idea of going to the gym. But, I know if I don't, it will be easier and easier to miss my workouts. It's the same with eating unhealthy food. There are times (although fewer as time goes on) when choices look good to me, but I know they're going to lead to a spiral of making other poor decisions.

I think I would respond to a comment like that with something like, "Sorry, simple discipline isn't part of the equation. Losing weight is like any other important goal. I had to dedicate myself to making changes in many spheres of my life (routine, daily doings, etc) and it has NOT been easy."

Or maybe, just, "Oh, I wish that were true."

I think comments of this ilk are because they don't know what else to say. Too bad they can't simply come up with, "Good for you, you look GREAT!"

"Discipline? I call it commitment.""Perhaps I do have some discipline, but I had to find it.""Overall discipline now, created by many small steps.""Less discipline than knowing what I want and taking steps toward getting it."

I would just encourage them to give it a try realizing that unless, and until, they find the desire in themselves to change -- they probably won't do so. My sister told me about Sparkpeople in August, I joined in October, '09, but didn't actually "do" anything with it until the end of February this year. I had to come to the realization within my own mind that I needed to make some serious changes. I am now motivated and have a strong desire to succeed. The desire doesn't come from wanting to be like someone else, but rather from wanting to change myself for the better -- for ME!

Keep your chin up and don't let the negative naysayers get you down! You've done fabulous!!

Hmm. I usually get the "it's easier for you because you live alone and don't have to chase kids around" - and I actually agree that not having to consider other people is convenient for structuring my food and exercise.

But I've rarely heard that I have inherently more discipline. Maybe because people KNOW me too well... LOL

If someone did say that to me, I suppose I'd come back with, "well, it wasn't always that way - I've had to work really hard on that."